Development of an Interactive Adventure Game for Enhancing Mathematical Learning in Second Grade Students

Mathematics is a fundamental subject taught across all educational levels, particularly in primary schools, where it serves as a foundation for understanding technology and science. However, second-grade students often struggle with mathematics due to a lack of motivation, primarily caused by conventional teaching methods that fail to engage them effectively. According to educators, students prefer learning through real-life examples that help them better understand the material and information presented. To address these challenges, an educational game was developed to support second-grade mathematics in primary schools, aligning with Indonesias latest curriculum, Merdeka Curriculum. The game covers key mathematical topics, including numbers recognition, comparisons, addition, subtraction, geometric shapes, spatial figures, and patterns. To increase student engagement and sustain their interest, the game incorporates an adventure genre where students complete mini-games as part of various missions throughout the gameplay. Testing was conducted by comparing the pre-test and post-test scores of second-grade students after playing the adventure game. Students took a pre-test before playing the game and a post-test afterwards. The test results demonstrated a significant improvement in understanding, with average scores increasing from 8.21 to 9.07, and the score range shifting from 5-10 to 7-10. This confirms that the use of the game is effective in enhancing students comprehension of mathematics.